Corvallis OR Real Estate and Community » Sellers

Top 10 List of the Best Places to Buy

Debbie — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:29:33 +0000

The attitude is way-laid back in Portland, Ore., making it the perfect place for Gen Y. There are tons of venues for merry-making: music clubs, coffee shops and art galleries. When it's not raining, you can bike through the city.

By Diane Wedner, Walletpop

1/7/2011 7:33:33 AM ET

Last decade’s bipolar housing market is over. The ups, the downs, the thrills, the spills — largely behind us. Yes, prices and sales are stuck in neutral in large swaths of the country.

But let’s ring in the new decade optimistically, with Walletpop’s Top 10 List of the Best Places to Buy a Home in 2011. This mostly unscientific and partially biased list is based on a grab-bag of lifestyle priorities and, yes, thorough reporting.

Here we go, in no particular order…

Couple Found Squatting in Upscale Foreclosure

Debbie — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:58:20 +0000

Just when I thought I had heard it all…

An Orange County, Calif., couple has been arrested on charges stemming from squatting in a foreclosed home in a luxurious Newport Beach neighborhood, city prosecutors say. The couple squatted for more than three months before they were discovered, authorities say.

Remodeling Cost vs Value

Debbie — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:54:50 +0000

Interested in seeing the current cost vs value for remodeling projects? Here’s the link to see the current report…

Cost vs Value

Home Prices on the Rise?

Debbie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:19:10 +0000

The New York Times posted the recent Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller study showing gains of home prices in multiple cities.

See the interactive chart here.

Remodeling Trends Have Changed

Debbie — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:11:37 +0000

When it comes to home ownership the remodeling trends of the recent past appear to have changed. The recent recession has left a permeating lifestyle change, one that has swapped over-indulgence with down-to-earth necessity. In other words, if it isn’t a necessity many people won’t do it.

It is a buyer’s market out there which means that the buyer is in control. A seller can no longer pass off a roof in poor condition or a faulty wiring system. If a homeowner wants to sell he will either have to make necessary repairs to his home or credit the buyer at closing.

Remodeling is on the upswing and for the first year since the height of the real estate market, the amount of money spent on remodeling is expected to increase. The only difference is what kind of remodeling is occurring, in other words if it needs fixing it is going to be fixed.

The days of bigger and better have passed, being replaced with the motto of living within one’s means and embracing the basics, and real estate in Corvallis is no exception to this rule.

Click here to read a recent article from the Wall Street Journal regarding the current state of remodeling.

Selling a Home in A Buyer’s Market

Debbie — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:05:58 +0000

It is no secret that it is a buyer’s market out there, great news for buyers, not so great for sellers. Sellers are no longer in a position to dictate the rules of the game and have to be careful how they respond and counter to offers, due to the fact that if a buyer doesn’t get his way he might just move on to the next seller, and there are a lot of sellers out there.

There are a few difficult things about being a seller today. A seller doesn’t know how long it will take to sell his home and when he gets a contract he can’t guarantee whether another one will come or not. What this means is that if a seller has to sell his home then he has to be wary of scaring the buyer away.

The inspection is one aspect of a contract where a seller can lose his shirt. If trying to sell your home it is a wise idea to have your home inspected before listing your home. This way you can make the necessary improvements and will avoid being surprised by unexpected requests. Because sellers are not in a position to capitalize on their real estate investment it is more important than ever to be on top of things, in order to retain as much value as possible.

An experienced Realtor is incredibly helpful in maneuvering a tricky real estate market, enabling a seller to evaluate his home, price it appropriately and sell it in a reasonable amount of time.

Contact me today to walk you through the steps of pricing your home in today’s market.

Determining A Home’s Value

Debbie — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:02:00 +0000

When selling a home one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for both the seller and the buyer is price, and let’s face it, price matters. The seller without a doubt has a value in mind when he decides to sell his home. A Realtor will conduct a Current Market Analysis (CMA), comparing homes that have sold in the area, both what similar homes have sold for and what has sold recently. Conducting a CMA should reveal what is a fair price to list a home at, however certain features can tweak the price per square foot value of a home, such as a home’s finishes, upgrades, and assets.

When a home goes under contract a professional appraiser will appraise it. The appraised value is similar to a CMA, it is based on the local real estate market, sales of comparable homes, the condition of the home and a few other criteria.

While the value of a home is first determined by the seller it ultimately is the buyer who sets the price, this is known as Market Value in real estate. Market Value is what a home actually sells for and can be higher or lower than asking price. A Realtor is a valuable tool in the selling of a home because pricing it right can designate how long it takes to sell.

Contact me to help establish a Market Value for your home.

Selling Your Home? Get in Spring Cleaning Mode

Debbie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:22:49 +0000

We are rapidly approaching Spring and if you are selling your home or thinking about selling your home, you might want to get into the Spring cleaning mode. There is no doubt about it, across the board clean homes sell better than messy or dirty homes do. It is an unwritten, yet openly discussed, rule in real estate.

The main areas to focus on when cleaning, or examining your already cleaned home, are windows, walls, baseboards, bathrooms, closets and cabinets.

Windows should be clear inside and out. Large picture windows should offer a clear, smudge-free view.
Walls should be clean, free of holes and have a fresh coat of paint if needed.
Baseboards should be free of dust and clean as well.
Bathrooms should sparkle. Tile and grout should be clean, any cracked tiles should be replaced. Toilets, tubs and showers should be stain-free.
Closets and cabinets should be cleared of clutter, organized and neat. If there is a door or drawer the chances are good that a prospective buyer will open it.

The important thing to remember is that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The better condition your home is in and the cleaner it appears the more likely it is to make a good impression.

Click here to view an article from Realty Times about selling a clean house.

The Reality of Realty

Debbie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:20:04 +0000

The reality of realty is that searching for positive news about real estate is not that difficult these days. Foreclosures have dropped in certain areas of the Country. Some areas are showing rebounds, having an increase in sales volume and home values. The available home buyer tax credits and low mortgage rates are boosting home sales. Even the drop in January sales appears temporary because, after-all, the tax credit expires on April 30th and people will start pounding the pavement in search of the new home to use it on.

Real estate that is selling in most places is selling because the price is right. People are buying real estate that they view as priced appropriately. If the home is affordable it will sell. The real estate that is not selling is real estate that is owned by people who are having a hard time letting go of what they think their home is worth or who will lose their shirt if they sell at the correct price. The reality of realty is that home values are not nearly what most people thought they would be when they bought their homes at the height of the market.

Click here for a recent article from CNBC on what is going on in real estate right now.

January, Shmanuary, Look Ahead When it Comes to Real Estate

Debbie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:37:33 +0000

The latest real estate headlines for the US are that home sales were down in January, some of these headlines even use the word “plunged”. However, there are a few areas scattered around that managed to buck this trend and no media frenzy can change that. Think about it, is it really a surprise that sales are down in January? January is the coldest month, even if you live in a southern state like Florida, who wants to move in to a new house in January.

Does anyone really feel like shopping in January when they have just completed a major holiday season that began with Thanksgiving at the end of November? Most people are just plain worn out by the time New Year’s Day is over, the last thing they feel like doing in packing up and moving. It is a month to relax and observe.

The original First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was meant to expire in November and when it got extended and expanded people realized that they had more time to make a decision. January data is showing a dip because people wanted to stop and take a look at what the new year would bring. Now that 2010 is here and people can see that mortgage rates and property values are staying low, housing is bound to show a steady increase in sales and eventually prices as well. Even Warren Buffet appears optimistic, stating that he believes that housing problems will soon be behind us.

Click here to view Warren Buffet’s stance on the economy and real estate as a whole.